Low Income & Subsidized Housing in Somerville, MA
There are 31 subsidized and income-restricted properties in Somerville with roughly 2,678 assisted units — including 15 project-based Section 8 buildings, 2 public housing developments, and 11 LIHTC tax-credit communities, according to HUD administrative data. Reported tenant-paid rents across these buildings range from about $356 to $1,002 per month. Median reported wait: about 21 months.
Map of subsidized housing in Somerville
Complete directory of subsidized housing in Somerville
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarendon Hill Towers LIHTC | 472 | — | — |
| Brady Towers Public Housing | 368 | $552 | 27 mo |
| Clarendon Hill Towers PB Section 8 | 347 | $659 | — |
| Cobble Hill Apts PB Section 8 | 223 | $421 | — |
| Mystic View Apt Public Housing | 215 | $1,002 | 14 mo |
| Bryant Manor / Somerville H.a. PB Section 8 | 134 | $478 | — |
| B F Faulkner Tower PB Section 8 | 129 | $539 | — |
| Vna Senior Living Community LIHTC | 99 | — | — |
| Visiting Nurse Assisted Living Community LIHTC | 97 | — | — |
| Capen Court Apts LIHTC | 95 | — | — |
| Pearl Street Park PB Section 8 | 85 | $470 | — |
| Mt Pleasant Apts PB Section 8 | 65 | $497 | — |
| 34 Linden Street Apts Lp LIHTC | 42 | — | — |
| Kent Street Apts LIHTC | 40 | — | — |
| St Polycarp Iii LIHTCPB Section 8 | 31 | — | — |
| Vna Senior Living Community §202 Senior | 31 | $387 | — |
| Walnut Street Center PB Section 8 | 30 | $356 | — |
| St Polycarp Ii LIHTC | 29 | — | — |
| Somerville 268 Washington Street PB Section 8 | 24 | $572 | — |
| St Polycarp I LIHTC | 24 | — | — |
| 33 Bow St LIHTC | 18 | — | — |
| Walnut Street 110 PB Section 8 | 12 | $548 | — |
| Pearl §811 | 10 | — | — |
| Center House PB Section 8 | 9 | — | — |
| Broadway LIHTC§811 | 8 | — | — |
| Mt. Vernon I PB Section 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Mt. Vernon Ii PB Section 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Somerville Place §811 | 8 | — | — |
| Mt. Vernon Iii PB Section 8 | 7 | — | — |
| 33 Sargent Avenue PB Section 8 | 5 | — | — |
| Jackson Road §811 | 5 | — | — |
Section 8 apartments in Somerville (project-based)
These buildings carry HUD Section 8 contracts attached to the units — apply at each management office rather than through the voucher waitlist. How project-based Section 8 works →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarendon Hill Towers PB Section 8 | 347 | $659 | — |
| Cobble Hill Apts PB Section 8 | 223 | $421 | — |
| Bryant Manor / Somerville H.a. PB Section 8 | 134 | $478 | — |
| B F Faulkner Tower PB Section 8 | 129 | $539 | — |
| Pearl Street Park PB Section 8 | 85 | $470 | — |
| Mt Pleasant Apts PB Section 8 | 65 | $497 | — |
| St Polycarp Iii LIHTCPB Section 8 | 31 | — | — |
| Walnut Street Center PB Section 8 | 30 | $356 | — |
| Somerville 268 Washington Street PB Section 8 | 24 | $572 | — |
| Walnut Street 110 PB Section 8 | 12 | $548 | — |
| Center House PB Section 8 | 9 | — | — |
| Mt. Vernon I PB Section 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Mt. Vernon Ii PB Section 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Mt. Vernon Iii PB Section 8 | 7 | — | — |
| 33 Sargent Avenue PB Section 8 | 5 | — | — |
Public housing developments in Somerville
Rents here are set at about 30% of household income and managed by the local housing authority. About the public housing program →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brady Towers Public Housing | 368 | $552 | 27 mo |
| Mystic View Apt Public Housing | 215 | $1,002 | 14 mo |
LIHTC & affordable tax-credit apartments in Somerville
Tax-credit units rent below market rate for households within income bands (often 30–60% of Area Median Income). Understanding LIHTC →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarendon Hill Towers LIHTC | 472 | — | — |
| Vna Senior Living Community LIHTC | 99 | — | — |
| Visiting Nurse Assisted Living Community LIHTC | 97 | — | — |
| Capen Court Apts LIHTC | 95 | — | — |
| 34 Linden Street Apts Lp LIHTC | 42 | — | — |
| Kent Street Apts LIHTC | 40 | — | — |
| St Polycarp Ii LIHTC | 29 | — | — |
| St Polycarp I LIHTC | 24 | — | — |
| 33 Bow St LIHTC | 18 | — | — |
| Broadway LIHTC§811 | 8 | — | — |
Voucher rent limits: Middlesex County Fair Market Rents
Housing Choice Voucher payment standards in this area derive from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Middlesex County: studio $2,359, 1-BR $2,476, 2-BR $2,941, 3-BR $3,526, 4-BR $3,894.
Full FMR table for Middlesex County →
How to apply for subsidized housing in Somerville
- Apply to buildings directly. Project-based Section 8, public housing, §202/§811 and LIHTC properties run their own waitlists — contact each office using the details on its page.
- Join voucher waitlists. Your regional housing authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers; ask about current openings and preferences. Step-by-step application guide →
- Document everything. ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates, and income proof speed up both paths.
- Stay reachable. Update your address everywhere — missed mail is the top reason applicants lose spots.
Nearby cities with low income housing
- Arlington, MA
- Ashland, MA
- Ayer, MA
- Bedford, MA
- Billerica, MA
- Cambridge, MA
- Chelmsford, MA
- Everett, MA
- Framingham, MA
- Hudson, MA
- Lexington, MA
- Littleton, MA
Data: HUD Picture of Subsidized Households & LIHTC database (2024 vintage). Figures are administrative averages — confirm current availability with each property.